A couple years ago Cityline Partners pulled the rezoning application for Scotts Run Station North after having gained approval on Scotts Run Station South. There were a few causes for the change in heart: VDOT approval was pending steps forward on the long anticipated Jones Branch Connector, there was question on whether Cityline was over extended as is with Scotts Run Station South (a major redevelopment project of its own), and Cityline had recently signed an agreement to operate a temporary metro parking lot at McLean Station.
The VDOT approval became possible once Capital One broke ground on their new 470′ Headquarters building, with a new source of funds and imminent need to progress the plans for the Jones Branch Connector. Questions about the market have been answered. With the flood of new apartments coming to delivery, there have been few signs that the residential market won’t atleast hit the minimum occupancy necessary to attain financing.
Lastly, the McLean Station parking lot, while providing some benefit in the interim for access to Metro, has turned out to be less necessary than some believed prior to the Silver Line operations. The lot, nearly a year after metro operations, remains less than half full even at peak times. All of this makes now the appropriate time for Cityline to push forward with Scotts Run Station North.
Scotts Run Station North will add a six block community between the Gates of McLean and Dolley Madison Boulevard, while also improving the natural stream valley of Scotts Run, creating an important buffer between Gates of McLean and the project, and adding a public civic plaza. The project includes 1.5 million square feet of mixed use development within 5 buildings ranging between 6 and 36-stories.
There are a few options on how the phasing of the development could occur, but I think the best option for everyone would be the Building A development as tower 1. It would be the easiest to construct without impact to the existing parking lot gates, would allow for concurrent stream restoration, and would be completed with a park that would be a welcomed amenity in the area.
There have, of course, been some interim problems with many of the projects under development in Tysons, such as pedestrian paths being blocked and disruption to existing roadways that were not necessarily addressed in the rezoning process. Scotts Run Station North will have their Board of Supervisors public meeting on June 02. If you do have some concerns about the development, this would be the best time to show up and air them.